Carton or box opener



Dec. 18, 1945. KNUDTSON 2,391,247

CARTON on BOX OPENER Filed July 7, 1944 //I 2% f5 I azrlfimdzwm IN V EN TOR.

(VITO/DYE)??- Patented Dec. 18, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARTON 0R BOX OPENER.

Carl T. Knudtson, Blue Earth, Minn.

Application July 7, 1944, Serial No. 543,922

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a tool designed primarily for opening cartons or paper boxes, an important object of the invention being to provide a tool of this character which may be used in opening paper boxes or cartons in such a way that the boxes or cartons will be preserved for further use, thereby eliminating waste and insuring a decided saving to the shipper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of this character having a sharp cutting end which may be used in cutting the usual paper sealing strips that seal the carton or box at the adjacent edges of the closure flap of the box, the cutting edge of the tool being so shaped that it may be readily moved along the sealing strip of the box while the tool is held in upright position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a box opener formed with a substantially straight handle and a wide curved blade that provides a fulcrum for the tool when the tool is used in prying open the flaps of a box or carton, the beveled end of the blade providing a cam surface for engagement with the flaps being opened, to prevent the tool from damaging the box during the prying operation.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a tool constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational viewthereof.

Figure 3 is a sectionalview taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Figur 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through a modified form of blade, showing the blade as transversely curved.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the tool comprises a substantially straight handle portion 5 and a wide blade portion 6, the curvature of the blade being substantially fifty degrees from the handle, so that when using the tool in prying open the flaps of a box, the convex surface of the curved blade, acts as a fulcrum on which the tool is rocked, in prying open the box.

The free end of the blade 6 is beveled as at 1, providing a cutting edge for cutting the sealing strips of a box when opening the box. The beveled cutting edge of the blade provides a cam surface for contact with the flat underside of the cover being pryed open, thereby insuring against the box being damaged by the sharp edge of the tool.

The tool is constructed from a length of suitable metal material, the metal materal being of a width equal to the width of the blade. A portion of the metal material is bent longitudinally of the body of the tool, providing a handle which is circular in cross-section, as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawing. This structure is not only exceptionally cheap to manufacture, but provides a tool wherein the handle is braced to insure against the handle bending, under excessive pressure directed thereto, during the prying operation, should the tool be used in opening wooden boxes or more rigid structures.

The outer or free end of the handle is widened and curved in a direction opposite to the curvature of the blade 6, providing a wide surface for contact with the palm of the hand, when directing pressure to the tool in prying open a package. The wide portion of the handle is indicated by the reference character 8 and is shown as having an opening to permit the tool to be hung on a suitable supporting hook or nail, not shown.

In order to facilitate th use of the tool in opening boxes wherein nails are used in securing the sides of the box together, a nail puller 9 is pro vided, the nail puller being in the form of a notch extending inwardly from one edge of the blade, as shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing.

As shown by Fig. 5 of the drawing, the blade is transversely curved, the upper surface indicated at I0, being convex. This structure presents a cam surface which will tend to break open box tops wherein overlapping sections are glued together. In opening boxes with this form of blade, the blade is inserted at one end of the sealed connection, and slid laterally separating the sections.

From the foregoing it will b seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a tool which is especially designed for use in opening paper cartons, boxes or the like, without danger of damaging the paper cartons so that they may be returned to the shipper, for further use, thereby resulting in an appreciable saving to the shipper.

It will also be seen that due to the construction of the wide hand-engaging portion of the handle, the tool may be pressed downwardly, rocking the tool when prying open a carton, without danger of the fingers being injured, when the tool handle moves downwardly under pressure directed thereto by the person opening the carton.

What is claimed is:

A box-opening tool comprising a length of substantially wide metal, portions of the metal being curved rearwardly providing a contracted hollow handle section circular in cross-section, and a 10 blade section, one end of the handle section be- 

